Refrigerator cabinet



Oct. 14, 1952 \R KlNG 2,613,838

REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Oct. 5, 1946 a Inventor: Robert A. King,

His Attorney.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 amass REFRIGERATOR CABINET Robert A. King, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 3,1946, Serial Nb. 700,846

9 Claims. (Cl. 220

.My invention relates to refrigerator cabinets of the type including a'metal inner liner secured in spaced relation to the outer cabinet shell and more particularly to arrangements for maintaining the required spacing between the shell and liner and for closing the space therebetween.

It is an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet having an outer wall and an inner wall in spaced relationship and including an improved arrangement for maintaining the sides of the outer wall and the inner wall in their required alignment.

It is another object of my invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet of the type having an inner metal wall spaced from an outer metal wall and an insulated breaker strip closingthe space therebetween and including an improved arrangement for holding the breakerv strip in its assembled position in a manner which allows easy assembly of the breaker "strip and which prevents disengagement of the breaker strip. after assembly. l

Further. objects and advantagesof invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of, noveltyv which'characterize my invention will bepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. r

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 15 a frontelevationiview,

partly broken away, of a refrigerator cabinet -incorporating my invention; Fig. ;2 is anenlarged view showing details of the breaker strip assembly; ig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4; shows a modifiedfbrm of my invention and'Fig. 5 shows still another modification of my invention. 1 7

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown a refrigerator cabinet I which includesa metal outer wall or shell 2 and a metal inner wall or liner 3.; The

cabinet is. provided with a cover 4 for the mar chinery compartment and a doorii forthe food storage compartment 6. the. outerfwall and the inner wall in properly spaced relationship I providea pluralityofspacer In order to maintain assemblies indicated by Tin this figure." The space between the outer wall and the inner Wall is filled with a suitable heat-insulating material, and a breaker strip 8 is provided to close the opening between the outer Wall and the inner wall along the area of the door frame.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown details of one embodiment of my invention; .A spacerS, which composed of suitable heat-insulating material,

is provided for maintaining the proper spacing between the iree edge portions of'the outer wall andthe inner wall. The outer walland the inner wall are secured against opposite ends of the spacer 9 by a bolt Hi and nut H, or by any other suitable securing device. The bolt and nut are also employed to secure an element It adjacent the wall 2 inwardly of the free edge portion of the'wall 2 and another element. It adjacent the Wall 3 inwardly of the free edge portionof the wall 3. Although I have shown the spacer mounted between inwardly extending portions of the walls, it will be apparent that individual brackets secured to; the outerwall and the inner I wall at suitable intervals could also be employed; In order to engage the edges of the breaker strip 8 and hold the latter in assembledpositionthe element. [2 is provided with a resilientfiange Id; which presses against oneedge ofthe breaker strip and the element it includes 1a resilient" flange [5 which presses against the other edge of the breaker strip. a p

:The end of the spacer is'provide'd with a raised portion it of reduced size. A notch in the element 12 is arranged toengage this raised. portion of the spacerto properly position the element I-Z' on the spacer; In'orderthat' the element lz may be irictional'lyheld inposition'i-t isiinade' of greate'rthickness than the raised portion it or thespacer, and;,when'the assembly is made,

the element i2 is therefore clamped in firm frice tio'nal engagement between'th spacer 9 and-the v wal'lf'il Thebolt lilpassesthrough an openin in the element .13 and, in its assembled position,

presses the element it friotionally against-;I the -1 wall- 3 A portionflgof the breakerstrip S-Iis made of arcuate cross section, and a-pcrtion of the spacer assemblyjis arranged to project 'intothisi curved. portion of the .breakerstrip. Inithe embodiment. f

shown in Fig.2, the member or portion oftlie assemblygso associated: with the breaker s'trip consists of the head I8 ofltheboltdd Wheii the breaker-strip. is assembled; one "edge is placed underthe resilient flange liof='the elementl2;

and thisfiange l4 presses th'e'breaker strip firmly I against the side; of the spacer 9;-:The other edge of. the breaker :strip is forced-beneath: the-flange l t r-th element" l3g and;is pressed therebyl'toward-the head [8, of the bolt' it; As'i'canibe clearly seerr from Fig; .2,1th e. head :,,l .8 oithez bolt projects well into the concave portion l'l oi-thetbreaker strip so that the breaker strip cannot move laterally a sufiicient distance to become disengaged from beneath the flange [5. Thus the bolt l6 not only completes the spacer assembly and holds the wall 2 and the wall 3 in properly spaced relation, but it also prevents disengagement of the breaker strip during normal use of the refrigerator. Should it be necessary, however, to disassemble the breaker strip at any time, this can readily be accomplished by forcing the resilient flange l5 away from the edge of the breaker strip.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of my invention which includes a spacer l9 composed of suitable heat-insulating material. The spacer I9 is secured to the wall 2 by a washer and a screw 2|, which cooperates with a threaded bore in one end of the spacer, and it is secured to. the wall-3 by a screw '22 which engages a similarly threaded bore in the other end of the spacer. In order to assist in supporting the'breaker strip 8, the wall 2 is provided with a flanged portion One edge of the breaker strip is pressed against the flanged portion 23 by a resilient flange 24 of an element 25. The element 25 is] incorporated in the spacer assembly by the screw 2! which clamps the element 25 between the wall 2 and the spacer IS. A clamp 26 is arranged to engage the other edge of the breaker strip. This clamp 26 is held in assembled position on the wall 3 by a shelf support 21 and a cooperating screw 28, which engages the shelf support. As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the breaker I strip 8 includes aportion [1 which is of arcuate cross section. The concave face of this curved portion of the breaker strip is disposed toward a projecting portion of the spacer assembly which in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is represented by the head 29 of the screw 22. The rounded head 29 of the screw 22 projects into the concavity in the breaker strip a sufficient distance to limit the movement of the breaker strip to an amount which prevents disengagement of the edge of the breaker strip from beneath the clamp 26. Disengagement ofthe breaker strip is thus prevented in thesame manner as previously described in connection with Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another embodiment of my invention which incorporates a modified form of spacer. The same numerals have been applied to corresponding parts in Figs. 4 and 5-. The spacer indicated at 30 consists of a fiat strip of heat-insulating material of rectangular cross section The spacer is provided with notches 3| and 32 which engage the wall 2 and notches 33 and 34 which engage the wall 3. An element 35 is provided with a portion 36 which presses against one edge of the breaker strip to hold it. in position against the outer shell and with anotched portion31 which engages the spacer 3t to prevent turning movement thereof after assembly. The specific construction of the spacer shown in Fig. 5 and the details of its assembly between the outer .wall and the inner wall are not my invention but are described and claimed in a" copending application of Edwin H. Boddy Serial No. 700,901, filed October 3, 1946 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. A rounded end 38 of the spacer 30 projects into the concavity formed by the curved portion l Tof the breaker strip 8. As can be seen by reference to Fig. 5 the end 38 of the spacer projects upwardly into this concavity a sufficient distance that movement of the breaker strip is outer wall, but such support can be accomplished by other members provided for that specific purpose such as the corner pieces shown in the aforementioned Boddy application.

From the foregoing it can be seen that I have provided a spacer assembly of simple construction which maintains the outer wall and the inner wall in the proper spaced relationship, and which also maintains the breaker strip in its assembled position.

While I have illustrated and described my invention by reference to specific embodiments, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described and I intend, by theappended claims, to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall and an inner wall mounted in spaced relationship, said walls terminating in spaced free edge portions, spacing means secured to said walls for maintaining the spaced alignment of said edge portions of said walls, a readily detachable breaker strip-for closing the space between said walls and'enclosing said free edge portions of said walls, resilient means secured to one of said walls inwardly of the edge portion thereof and engaging one edge of said breaker strip for retaining said breaker strip in position, said breaker strip being formed with aconcave portion adjacent said one edge thereof and enclosing said one edge portion of said one of said walls, and means including a portion of said spacing means extending toward said" concave portion of said breaker stripand arranged to engage said concave portion while said one edge of said breaker strip'is in engagement with said resilient means to prevent disengagement of said breaker strip from said resilient'mea'ns;

'2. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall, an

I inner wall arranged in spaced relationship to said first-named wall, said walls terminating in spaced free edge portions, a spacer secured to said walls for maintaining said edge portions in spaced alignment, a readily detachable breaker strip closing the space between said walls and enclosing-said edge portions of said walls; said breaker strip being shaped to provide a concave portion adjacent one edge thereof and facing said spacer,

, :freeedge portions, a readily detachable ,bre aker strip closing the space between said wallsI-andienclosingsaid edge portions of said. walls, said. j breaker strip being formed to. provide a concave vj portion-adjacent one edge thereof and enclosing the edgeportion of one of said walls, means sez cured to said one of saidiwalls inwardlyyof said gredge portion thereof and engaging-said gone:

edge of said breaker strip, and spacing means secured to said walls for maintaining said edge portions of said walls in spaced alignment, said concave portion of said breaker strip facing said spacing means, a portion of said spacing means projecting through said one of said walls and into said concave portion of said breaker strip and arranged to engage said concave portion while said one edge of said breaker strip is in engagement with said first-mentioned means to prevent disengagement of said breaker strip from said first-mentioned means.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer shell, an inner liner arranged in spaced relation to said outer shell, said outer shell and said inner liner terminating in spaced free edge portions, a spacer assembly for maintaining said edge portions of said outer shell and said inner liner in spaced alignment, 'a readily detachable breaker strip closing the space between said outer shell and said inner liner and overlapping said edge portions thereof, said breaker strip being shaped to provide a concave portion adjacent one edge thereof facing said spacer assembly and enclosing the edge portion of said inner liner, and means secured to said inner liner inwardly of said edge portion thereof and engaging said one edge of said breaker strip adjacent said concave portion, said spacer assembly including means extending toward said concave portion of said breaker strip for engaging said concave portion while said breaker strip is in engagement with said firstmentioned means to prevent disengagement of said breaker strip from said first-mentioned means.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer shell, an inner liner spaced from said outer shell, said outer shell and said inner liner terminating in spaced free edge portions, a spacer for maintaining said edge portions of said outer shell and said inner liner in spaced alignment, means securing said spacer between said outer shell and said inner liner, said means including a member projecting from said spacer through said inner liner, a breaker strip closing the space between said outer shell and said inner liner and enclosing said edge portion of said inner liner, and means secured to said inner liner inwardly of said edge portion thereof and engaging one edge of said breaker strip, said breaker strip being formed with a concave portion adjacent said one edge thereof and enclosing said edge portion of said inner liner and said member, said projecting member extending toward said concave portion of said breaker strip and being arranged to engage said concave portion while said breaker strip is in engagement with said last-mentioned means to prevent disengagement of said breaker strip from said lastmentioned means. v

6. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall, an inner wall arranged in spaced relation to said first-named wall, said walls terminating in spacedfree edge portions, a spacer for maintaining said edge portions of said walls in spaced alignment, means securing said spacer to said walls, a breaker I. strip closing the;spaceibetween;saidawalls. and enone edge thereof facing, said, securing means and enclosing qthe'edge portion of one ,of saidwalls,

.andresilient meansisecured to said-one ofsaid walls and engaging said, one edge of said breaker strip-for pressing. said breaker strip toward. said I first-mentioned means, :said first-mentioned means extending toward said concave portion of said breaker strip for engaging said concave portion while said one edge of said breaker strip is in engagement with said-resilient means to prevent ,disengagement of said .breakerstrin fromsaid l5 resilient means. v

7. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer shell, an inner liner arranged in spaced relation to said outer shell, said outer shell and said inner liner terminating in spaced free edge portions. a spacer for maintaining said edge portions of said outer shell and said inner liner in spaced alignment, resilient means secured to said outer shell, resilient means secured to said inner liner, means securing both the said resilient means and said spacer in position, a breaker strip closing the space between said outer shell and said inner liner and enclosing said edge portions of said outer shell and said inner liner, one edge of said breaker strip being engaged by one of said resilient means and the other edge of said breaker strip being engaged by the other of said resilient means, said breaker strip being shaped to provide a concave portion adjacent said one edge of said breaker strip and facing said securing means, said securing means extending toward said concave portion of said breaker strip for engaging said concave portion while said one edge of said breaker strip is in engagement with said one of said resilient means to prevent disengagement of said breaker strip from said one of said resilient means. I

8. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer wall, an inner wall arranged in spaced relation to said first-named wall, said walls terminating in spaced free edge portions, a spacer assembly maintaining said edge portions of said walls in spaced alignment, and a breaker strip closing the space between said walls and enclosing said edge portions of said' walls, said breaker strip being shaped to provide a concave portion adjacent one edge thereof facing saidspacer assembly, resilient means engaging said one edge of said breaker strip, said spacer assembly including means securing said resilient means in assembled position, said spacer assembly extendingtoward said concave portion of said breaker strip for engaging said concave portion while said one edge of said breaker strip is in engagement with said resilient means to prevent disengagement of said breakerstrip from said resilient means.

9. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer shell, an.

inner liner arranged in spaced relation to said outer shell, said outer shell and said inner liner terminating in spaced free edge portions, a spacer assembly for maintaining said edge portions of said outer shell and said inner liner in spaced alignment, and a breaker strip closing the space between said outer shell and said inner liner and enclosing said edge portions of said outer. shell and said inner liner, said breaker strip being shaped to provide a concave portion adjacent one edge thereof facing said spacer assembly, a first resilient means pressing said one edge of said breaker strip against said inner liner, a

second resilient means pressing the other edge spacer assembly including means forsecuring said two resilient means in position, said spacer assembly further including means extendin toward said concave portion of said breaker strip 5 for engaging said concave portion while said ad- .ijacent edge of said breaker strip is in engagement with said one edge of said breaker strip tof'prevent disengagement of said breaker strip file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 2,123,403 Number Name 37 Date Connelly July 12, 1938 Name Date Oelmann Dec. 24, 1940 Foster ....2 Apr. 15, 1941 Rundell Mar. 9, 1943 Goulooze -Sept.'21, 1943 Nauert Jan. 23, 1945 Petkwitz Aug. 27, 1946 

